Madiba hailed as HIV/Aids hero

Nelson Mandela fought against the silence surrounding the disease

The head of the UN's Aids prevention agency hailed Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who remains in a critical condition in hospital, for his role in breaking the silence and shame surrounding the deadly disease.

"He was the one who really helped us break the conspiracy of silence," said Michel Sidibe, the executive director of Unaids.

"His legacy is that of non-discrimination, inclusiveness, and making sure that we will continue to fight for the rights of people without rights... That is what he brought to the fight against HIV/Aids," he added.

Mandela has become a leading Aids campaigner after completing his single term in office.

In a country where some 5.5 million people, or more than 10% of the population, are living with the HIV that causes Aids, Mandela contributed to "giving a voice to the voiceless" suffering from the disease, which claimed his own son in 2005, Sidibe said.

Mandela among other things led the push for HIV sufferers to be given anti-retroviral drugs in South Africa, and launched a campaign for all governments to declare a global Aids emergency, insisting that fighting the deadly illness was an issue of human rights.

"Fighting discrimination... and believing in inclusiveness and respecting the dignity of people, that is really what he brought [to the fight against] HIV/Aids in the 21st century," Sidibe said.

Mandela's successors Thabo Mbeki and President Jacob Zuma, had drawn international criticism for their ignorance on HIV/Aids.